Remembering Distinguished Professor Jon Carlson

The Governors State University community recently lost one of its most constant and honored members. Dr. Jon Carlson, long-time faculty member in the Division of Psychology and Counseling, passed away on February 1.

According to his son, Dr. Matt Englar-Carlson, “My dad was an amazing person who squeezed as much as he could out of his 71 years. I do not think he slept that much. He was able to find the good in everyone, and worked diligently to make the best around him better.”

Carlson was a licensed psychologist with doctoral degrees in both counseling and clinical psychology. During his tenure, he touched many lives, guiding his students to learn more, understand more, and achieve more. Carlson was a Full Professor when he retired in 2015.

At GSU, he was named Distinguished Professor of Counseling and Psychology. He earned the Faculty Excellence Award for the 1990–91, 1995–96, 1999–2000, and 2001–02 academic years. He was also a Distinguished Professor of Adlerian Psychology at his alma mater, Adler University in Chicago.

As a therapist for over 40 years mainly in Lake Geneva, Carlson worked with individuals, families, and couples. His family estimated that he clocked over 80,000 hours serving his clients believing, according to his son, “that helping people grow was his life task.”

Carlson’s work also had an impact on the professional psychological community, for which he received lifetime contribution awards from the American Psychological Association and the American Counseling Association. He was named one of the Living Legends in Counseling in 2004. Carlson published more than 60 books and 175 professional articles. He worked closely with the GSU Department of Digital Learning and Media Design to produce more than 300 video training programs that are currently in wide use.

Carlson and his wife, Laura, were married for 50 years and have five grown children. According to his son, “He taught my family how to look at the world with compassion and always strive to be kind and giving to others.” This is also how he will be remembered by his friends, colleagues, and students at GSU.

Arrangements concerning a memorial service for Dr. Jon Carlson are pending.